Fond du Lac Haz/Mat Crews Respond To I-41 For Spill From Semi

The City Of Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue Haz/Mat team responded to I-41 southbound, south of State Highway 151 last night for a report of some type of liquid leaking out of a semi.

A call initially came into the Fond du Lac County Communications Center around 8 PM of a semi travelling south on 41 near County Highway N that was leaking a fluid that had a “chemical/flammable” smell.

The reporting person passed the semi and relayed to the dispatcher the semi had two placards on the side reading dangerous and flammable.

Fond du Lac County Sheriff Officers found the semi and pulled it over south of 151. Once stopped, the substance continued leaking out onto the shoulder of the highway so the fire department was called.

Fond du Lac Fire Rescue Hazardous Materials Technicians entered the rear of the semi-trailer to try to determine the source of the leak amongst a mixed load of materials that was completely full. A 55-gallon steel drum of a hazardous product was found to be empty. The drum had been punctured near the bottom, leaking its entire contents into the back of the trailer. The damaged drum contained an ink product which was a hazardous flammable liquid. Technicians placed absorbent pads, pillows, and socks at the rear of the trailer to stop the flow of product onto the ground.

The fire department remined on scene until midnight when a clean-up crew arrived on scene that the company that owned the
semi had contracted to clean up the scene.